Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar continues to dominate conversations well beyond the box office, and the latest endorsement has only added fuel to the fire. Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej has come out strongly in support of the Ranveer Singh–Akshaye Khanna starrer, calling it a landmark moment for Indian cinema — while also taking a pointed dig at those comparing it unfavourably to Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan.
🎬 “Indian Cinema Coming of Age”
After catching the film during a brief break from his travels, Kej shared a glowing reaction on social media, praising nearly every aspect of Dhar’s spy thriller.
He described Dhurandhar as a technically sharp, no-compromise film where the three-and-a-half-hour runtime “flies by”, crediting its performances, editing, dialogue, and music for keeping the momentum intact. Kej also applauded composer Shashwat Sachdev’s score and singled out director Aditya Dhar as a filmmaker who has “proven himself incapable of anything less than brilliance.”
The endorsement stood out not just for its enthusiasm, but for how firmly it aligned with the growing audience sentiment around the film.
🔥 A Sharp Dig at the Critics — and at Pathaan
Kej didn’t stop at praise. In a follow-up note, he addressed critics who have taken issue with Dhurandhar’s gritty tone and violence, suggesting many may not have even watched the film.
Without naming names, he contrasted Dhurandhar’s raw, adult storytelling with what he implied was a preference for more glamorous spy cinema — a remark widely interpreted as a swipe at Pathaan and the controversy surrounding Deepika Padukone’s “Besharam Rang” sequence.
The comment instantly reignited old debates about realism versus spectacle in Bollywood’s spy genre, pulling Pathaan back into the conversation despite its release nearly two years ago.
🎥 Why the Comparison Keeps Coming Back
Directed by Siddharth Anand, Pathaan — starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham — became a cultural and commercial juggernaut, earning over ₹1,050 crore worldwide and cementing the success of the YRF Spy Universe. But it also drew backlash for its stylised presentation and song picturisation, making it an easy reference point whenever a more grounded spy film appears.
Dhurandhar, on the other hand, positions itself as a darker, adult-certified espionage drama, inspired by real-world incidents and driven by ideological conflict rather than glamour.
📊 Audience Verdict Is Doing the Talking
Despite mixed critical reviews, largely focused on its length and pacing, Dhurandhar has found strong footing with audiences. Word of mouth has powered the film to become the fifth-highest-grossing Bollywood release of 2025 within just eight days.
So far, the film has collected approximately ₹372 crore worldwide, with momentum still holding steady in theatres.
The cast includes Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and R. Madhavan, with several performances — particularly Khanna’s — earning widespread appreciation from industry voices.
⏭️ What’s Next
With its success now firmly established, anticipation has already shifted to Dhurandhar’s sequel, slated for release on March 19, 2026. The follow-up is set for a major box-office clash with Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale for the Grown-Ups, setting up one of next year’s most talked-about showdowns.
⭐ Final Words
Ricky Kej’s comments underline a larger truth around Dhurandhar: this is a film that has divided critics but united audiences. Whether one agrees with his swipe at Pathaan or not, the debate itself shows how firmly Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller has embedded itself in the cultural conversation — and how hungry audiences are for bold, uncompromising storytelling.
